The U.S. Supreme Court has rebuffed a business-led challenge to a worldwide health care program in San Francisco that has taken in no less than 53,000 people who did not have health insurance.

The justices on Monday denied a plea from the Golden Gate Restaurant Association of an appeals court verdict upholding the program's necessity that bosses help pay the bill or give their personnel health coverage.

The verdict permits the program to maintain its stress on sharing the financial liability for health care, that is, a cost borne by the public, employers and employees, said Tangerine Brigham, Director of Healthy San Francisco.

If they do not make any contribution to funds for health care services and their worker comes to a public or community-based organization for care, the expenditure is taken care of by the public, Brigham said.

Kevin Westlye, Executive Director of the restaurant association, said that his organization has no difference with Healthy San Francisco, but queried whether bosses would have to shell out for what they think an expensive mandate.

The authorization is already costing jobs and turning dining out in San Francisco more costly, Westlye said.

The restaurant association said the city cannot necessitate employers to pay the fee, since a federal bylaw usually prohibits state and local intrusion in the region of benefits that are presented to workers.